EU Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, visits Australian carbon capture and utilisation startup MCi Carbon

The visit highlights the pivotal role of CCU technology for the decarbonisation of the European and global industry. MCi Carbon specialises in capturing emissions from various industries, such as refractories, steel, cement, fertilizers, and repurposing carbon to create products and materials for the circular carbon economy. Utilising a chemical process known as mineral carbonation, MCi Carbon produces materials like calcium and magnesium carbonate by carbonating minerals in industrial by-products.

Aussie Clean Tech for the European Grean Deal

RHI Magnesita, as MCi Carbon’s first global commercial customer, plans to deploy MCi’s decarbonisation solution to drastically reduce their Scope 1 emissions. “The partnership with the Australian startup MCi Carbon is forward-looking, combining carbon capture storage and carbon utilisation, which is currently the most promising way for the refractory industry to reduce process emissions and thus achieve our Net Zero goal”, said Constantin Beelitz, Regional President Europe, CIS & Türkiye at RHI Magnesita.

In a significant move toward global sustainable industrial decarbonisation, MCi Carbon has initiated preliminary engineering work for their first industrial-scale plant in collaboration with RHI Magnesita. This endeavour, coupled with a substantial investment from RHI Magnesita, accelerates MCi Carbon’s mission to scale up and commercialise their carbon capture and utilisation technology.

RHI Magnesita has now committed again an additional multi-million-euro investment into testing and scale-up of MCi Carbon’s technology in preparation for the commercial roll-out at Hochfilzen/Austria, a project planned for 2028 which will capture and transform approximately 50 000 tpy of CO₂ and create mineral value products that are carbon negative. During her visit, Commissioner Simson gained insights into the technology’s potential for advancing the EU’s CO₂ reduction goals.

“In the pursuit of our climate goals, embracing diverse technologies is paramount”, Commissioner Simson emphasises. “It’s imperative to establish a robust legal framework within the EU that not only enables but also endorses innovative solutions crucial for attaining our net zero objectives."

Marcus Dawe, Founder and CEO of MCi Carbon, expressed gratitude for the recognition from Commissioner Simson, stating, “MCi Carbon’s technology proves that decarbonisation and profitable business models are possible simultaneously. The support of RHI Magnesita accelerates our impact, amplifies our voice, and solidifies our position as leaders in carbon capture and utilisation.”

RHI Magnesita, headquartered in Vienna, is the world’s leading producer of industrial ceramics (refractories) with over 50 plants worldwide, including 21 plants and 4 mines in the EU. Recognising the financial implications of rising carbon prices and the gradual phase-out of free allowances for process emissions under the EU ETS scheme, RHI Magnesita is investing in innovative technologies such as MCI Carbon’s to decarbonise its operations.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/11042024/eu-commissioner-for-energy-kadri-simson-visits-australian-carbon-capture-and-utilisation-startup-mci-carbon/